No Wonder he has Bruises

Wow!

Maximus-LJ (Little Jesse) and picture of baby Jesse.

Omaha Zoo

Stacey, Jesse, Danny, Vicki, UnkFa (Fletcher), Ransom, Ashlie, Paul, UnkDa (DJ) and The Maximus.

We went to the Omaha zoo this past Sunday and had too much fun. Maximus enjoyed all parts of it, minus the caves. He squeaked and jumped when he got to visit the petting zoo area because everything was his size. We went with Jesse's family and each one of us had a blast! Thank you Guytin and Pawpaw for the gifts!
He's a good pointer.
Maximus and UnkDa during lunch.
Maximus and UnkFa checking out a Black Swan...which was totally beautiful!

UnkFa tickling Maximus.

The relaxing train ride toward the end of the day.
One of the sweetest things I've ever seen! Look closely, just like a human baby! Guess it goes to show we are descendants.
Maximus in the petting zoo.
Maximus giving a goat lovers.
Peeking through some kind of bird cage.

He loved running around on the grass next to the polar bear area.
Maximus was Pawpaw's little Velcro. I have about 12 pictures of him attached to his Grandpa during this trip. In fact, as I'm typing this, Maximus is pointing at the computer saying, "paaaw paaaw..."

Excellent profile picture.
DJ trying to give the lion lovers.
Maximus being carried out of the zoo by Pawpaw. At this point during the day, he didn't want his stroller or anyone else. Just Danny and his blankie. He actually started to fall asleep. It was a total tear jerker.
It was SO much fun! We came home and Maximus and I crashed on the bed watching cartoons. We even ordered dinner out. The animals in the zoo always make me sad and I get the urge to unlock all their cages and set them free, but I practiced self control. Maximus is at the age where he enjoys doing so many different things and he LOVES learning. Jesse and I were talking about different things we can do with him to stimulate him and help him learn and grow. I just enrolled him in another 6 week block of Shark School (swimming lessons) and I'm thinking of joining the Parents as Teachers group. Maybe, it's ultra conservative, which I am not. Anyway, we loved the day. Everyone did. Totally worth it. Thank you Guytin for the brilliant idea and I'm sorry you're not in any of these pictures- Danny hogged them all.

My Other Blog

I was emailed by the "Skinny Chef" herself (Jennifer Iserloh) and she wanted me to change the name of my food blog. I guess she has trademarked "Skinny Chef" and asked me to change my blog URL "NOW". I don't want to. It's not like I'm making money from my blog, I doubt anyone reads it anyway and it's mainly a tool for me to remember my recipes and vent about unhealthy food. I'm not going to change it and I'm not going to reply to her email. What's she going to do? Delete it? She even bribed me with a free copy of her cookbook. No thanks.

You can see I'm not trying to compete with her. I have a blog. Just a lame, little blog. Not a full service, professionally designed website with category tabs.

Mine: www.secretsofaskinnychef.blogspot.com

Hers: www.skinnychef.com and www.secretsofaskinnychef.com

The Frozen Park

Sunday afternoon, we went to a park so Jesse could ride his bike on the cyclocross trail. Jackie, Maximus and I bundled up because it was only 34º, but felt like it was 27º. Brrr...

Handsomer spotted an airplane.
He climbs up the ladder on his own now!
Jesse was BEAT!

Beefy watching dad.Frozen mama.

What's in His Cup Today?

Cannellini beans, of course! He loves them and ate an entire cup!

And here is is on the back of the hutch balancing. Totally safe.

Snots and Snorts

This morning Maximus didn't have a cold. But this afternoon when he woke up from his nap, he did. He had the clear, drippy, runny snot that I can't keep wiping fast enough before it reaches his top lip and he has a little cough. I feel bad for him, but he sounds funny when he eats.

Tonight I slathered him in Vicks (after bathing him in Vicks bubble bath) and I put him in bed with Jesse to watch the Sprout channel. He loves to watch a few minutes of the "Goodnight Show" while I warm his milk and I think he just loves being in bed with dad and zoning out. After I warmed his milk, I walk in and see this:



Handsomer NEVER falls asleep before milk! It was so cute because he was snuggled and not only was Jesse snoring, but Maximus was snorting. Poor little Beefy.

Here are a couple pictures of him being cute earlier today. One is taken in one of his toy boxes and the other he was making some Goldfish thing. (Yes, I stooped and bought Goldfish to quiet him down while grocery shopping, ew...)

My Laundry Helper

The Many Names of Maximus

• Handsomer
• Baby Shark
• Max-eye-mus
• Maximii
  
• Sir
• Dude
• Hans
• LJ (Little Jesse)
• The Greek Norsky
  
• Googoo (sometimes just "goog")

...and the newest one: BEEFY! We always comment on how he has "big beefy legs like dad" so I just started calling him Beefy. He started out with the skinniest legs ever and now they're so big and strong. He and Jesse stood in front of the mirror the night and both had shorts on. Maximus' legs are just a shorter version of Jesse's. I would post a picture, but Jesse was in his boxers, so I'll post this one instead. And notice how "Max" isn't on the list? We never call him that! Everyone else does.